AN investigation into the cause of a house fire in which a woman lost her life continued on Friday.

Emergency services were called to the blaze in Middleham Walk, Spennymoor, County Durham, on Thursday afternoon after a neighbour spotted smoke coming from an upstairs window and raised the alarm.

When fire crews and police arrived at the property they found a woman's body inside. Noone else was in the house, though the woman is thought to have lived there with her husband, or neighbouring properties.

A joint investigation was immediately launched by Durham police and County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service to ascertain the cause of the fire, which occurred around 2.45pm on Thursday, August 11.

An examination of the mid-terrace property could not be completed before it got dark on Thursday so were resumed this morning.

Police have appealed to anyone with information to call 101 and ask for Bishop Auckland CID.